Residents of Carletonville may soon face a water crisis after the Merafong City Local Municipality confirmed it does not currently have the funds to repair growing sinkholes threatening critical infrastructure at the 007 reservoir, located just outside the town.

According to the municipality, no financial assistance has yet been received from provincial or national government to deal with the sinkholes, which are expanding dangerously close to vital water pipelines and a Rand Water pump station.

The Herald reported last week that two sinkholes have now formed at the site. One is situated next to the pipeline rerouted after a devastating 2015 sinkhole, which rendered the reservoir non-operational. The second, more recent sinkhole, appeared beneath a pipeline adjacent to a Rand Water pump station, where a leak had previously occurred in 2023.

This week, the ground beneath that pipeline was visibly caving in, raising alarm that if it collapses, Carletonville could be left without water.

When asked for comment, Merafong spokesperson Temba Fezani said the municipality cannot proceed with repairs without support:

“Sinkholes are filled with the aid of funding support from provincial and national government. Currently, the municipality hasn’t received any funding to attend to such.”

Fezani added that the municipality is also unable to address a sinkhole at the Khutsong reservoir, highlighting a broader infrastructure crisis affecting the region.